Car-coupling



(No Model.)

2 sheets/ sheet 1.

A. S. WEAVER. GAR coUPLING.

Patented Deou 28,1897.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. S. WEAVER.

` CAIR GOUPLING. No. 596,195. Patented Deo. v28, 1897.

W/TNESSEJ.' INVEIVTH g i bww AT einen.

ANDRUS S. VEAVER, OF JOY, NEW YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,195, dated December28, 1897.

Application iiled July 13,1897. Serial No. 644,3 89. (No model.)

such as will enable those skilled in the art tov which it ap pertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to car-couplers; and the object thereof is toprovide an improved device of this class which is simple in constructionand operation and which is adapted to be connected with both ends of acar, the operation of coupling the cars being automatic and the couplersbeing adapted to be locked or unlocked from the side or top of the car.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following speciieation, of whichthe accompany'- ing drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 is a bottomplan view of the end of a car provided with my improved coupler; Fig. 2,a partial central longitudinal section of the coupler and showing thesupports there of also in section; Fig. 3, a sectional end yview of apart of the coupler; Fig. 4, a plan view of a coupler-head and the partsconnected therewith, partly in section, and showing in dotted lines theposition it occupies when the car is uncoupled; Fig. 5, a plan viewshowing the coupler-head in the reverse position; Fig. 6, a back view ofa movable jaw which is connected with the coupler-head, and Fig. 7 asection on the line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

In thev drawings forming part of this specication the separate parts ofmy improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in eachof the views, and in the practice of my invention I provide a couplerwhich comprises a coupler-head 7, which is provided with an outwardlyand forwardly directed stationary jaw 8 at one side and at the oppositeside with a forwardly-directed stationary jaw 9, with which a movablejaw 10v is connected.

The coupler-head 7 is provided with a backwardly-directed shank 11, andthe stationary jaw 9, adjacent to said shank, is provided centrally withan opening 12,which extends therethrough and which opens between themovable jaw 10 and the stationary jaw 8.

The movable jaw 10 is provided with a top plate 13, which is connectedtherewith by a bolt or pin 14 and a pivot-pin 15, by which the movablejaw is connected with'the stationary jaw 9, and said plate 13 is curvedto correspond with the shape of the stationary jaw 9 of the coupler-headand rests upon the coupler-head and said jaw, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.The movable jaw 10 is also provid ed centrally with abackwardly-directed arm 16, which is of the form shown in Figs. 4 and 6,and the free end thereoc is provided with a curved head 17, which isbeveled to correspond with the inner wall of the opening 12 in thecoupler-head, and said arm 16 is provided with a forwardly-directed camor projection 10a and with a backwardly-directed projection 18, on whichis formed a head 19, which is provided with an upwardly and rearwardlydirected shoulder or projection 20, and the outer ends of the head 19and of the shoulder or projection 2O are cam-shaped in form,

as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6, for the purpose of raising the head27 of the sliding bar 26 in the operation of coupling the cars.

The shank 11 of the coupler-head passes backwardly through a hanger 21,secured to the end of the car, and which is provided withdownwardly-directed jaws 22, which are provided with backwardly-directedarms 23, which support an antifriction-roller 24, on which the shank 11of the coupler-head rests, and that portion of said shank 11 between thejaws 22 of the hanger is wider than the rear end thereof, and formedtherein is a slot 25, in which is mounted a sliding bar 26, which isprovided at its outer end with a head 27, which passes into the opening12 of the coupler-head, and the head 27 of the sliding bar 26 ispreferably circular or elliptical in form, as shown in Fig. 2, and isprovided at the lower side thereof with an outwardly-directed head 2Sand at the front side thereof with projections 29 and 30, and theseprojections are adapted to interlock with the head 19, formed on thebackwardlyedirected eX- tension 1S of the arm 16 of the movable jaw, andthe upwardly and rearwardly directed shoulder or projection 20, formedon said head, and in this operation the movable jaws on the adjacentcouplers operate in connection with the cams or projections 10 and theplates 13 and force the arms 16 backwardly,

IOO

as will be readily understood, in such manner as to allow the bar 26 andthe head 27 to engage the cam-shaped shoulder or projection 2O of thehead 19.

Formed in the bottom of the plateI 1 3, which is connected with themovable jawl() and which rests on the stationary jaw 9 of thecoupler-head, is an irregular chamber 31, which is shown in dotted linesin Fig. 5, and in which is mounted a spring 32, which is also shown indotted lines in said ligure, and the free end of the spring bears on apin 33, which is secured to the stationary jaw 9, and the operation ofthe spring is to throw the movable jaw 10 outwardly, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 4.

Passing through the hangers 34, secured to the bottom of the car at eachside thereof is a shaft 35, which is provided at each end with a crank3G, and the shaft 35 passes through the shank 11 of the coupler-head andthrough an oblong cavity or recess 37 formed in a head 38 at the rearend of the sliding bar 2G, and the shaft 35 is provided with a cam 39,and by turning said shaft the bar 2G may be forced outwardly orinwardly, as will be readily understood, the said cam 39 operating onthe forward or rear walls of the cavity or recess 37 when the movablejaw 19 of the eoupler-head is in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and4. If the sliding bar 25' be forced backwardly by the cam 39 on theshaft 37, the head 27 will be disengaged from the cam 2O on the head 19of the projection 18 of the arm 1G of the knuckle, and the knuckle,together with the arm 1U, will immediately be forced into the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 by the spring 32, in combination withthe plate 13 and pin 33, and it will be understood that when the saidhead 19 or cam 2O formed therein is released from the head 27 of the bar26 and the knuckle assumes the position above referred to the shaft 35is again operated and the said slidin g bar 26 is forced forwardly bythe cam 39, and when the cars come together in the act of being coupledthe knuckle 19 of the one car will engage with projection 10n and plate13 of the knuckle of the other car and force the same backwardly, andthe cam 2O on the head 19 will raise the head 27 on the sliding bar 26and will pass beneath the same, andthe said head will drop down behindsaid cam 2O on the head 19 and securely lock the knuckle in the positionshown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5, and thereby lock the cars together, as willbe readily understood.

The rear end of the shaft 11 of the couplerhead passes backwardlythrough a easing 40, formed on or secured to the plate 41, which isadapted to be secured to the bottom of the car, and said casing isprovided at the front end thereof with an upwardly-directed extension42, in which are mounted two transverse rollers 43, the shafts of whichmove in slots 44, formed in the sides of the casing in which saidrollers are mounted, and the said rollers 43 project slightly below thebase-plate 41 of the casing 40, and the shaft 11 of the coupler-head isprovided on its under side with a longitudinal slot 45, which is deepestat the center and the depth of which gradually decreases in thedirection of each. end thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and I alsoprovide a locking-lever 4G, which is provided with a ilat spoon-shapedhead 47, which is provided centrally of the upper side thereof with alongitudinal slot 48, which opens forwardly and which extends backwardlyapproximately to the rear end of the head 47, and mounted in the slot 4Sis a frietion-roller 49, which is provided with trunnions 59, which restin bearings 5l, formed in the head 47 at each side of said slot 43.

Mounted between the rear end of the lever 4G and a suitable bearing 52,secured to the bottom of the ear, is a strong expansive sprin 53, and inthe operation of the device the shank 11 of the coupler-head is free toslide within certain limits between the rollers 43 and the roller 49;but it will be observed that the roller 49 cannot be detached from itsposition by reason of the manner in which it is supported and by reasonof the spring 53, which operates to force the rear end of the lever 4Gdownwardly, and the head of said lever can only move within certainlimits, and when backward pressure is applied to the coupler-head andthrough said couplerhead to the shank 11, which occurs when the cars arecoupled, said shank will move backwardly to a predetermined extent, butcannot move far enough to throw the roller 49 out of the slot 45 in thebottom thereof, and when the weight of the car is thrown on the shaft11, which occurs when the train is in motion, said shaft 1l of theeoupler-head will move forwardly within certain limits, but cannot movefar enough to allow the roller 49 to be thrown out of the slot 45, andit will thus be seen that the shank 1]. of the couplerhead is free tomove between the rollers 43 and the roller 49 only within certainlimits, this movement being sufficient to compensate for the recoil ofthe coupler-heads when the cars are coupled and to permit saidcouplerheads to move slightly in their supports when the train is beingstarted, and also to allow for the free movement of the coupler-headswhen the train is in motion.

The lever 46 is supported by inwardly-directed shoulders or projections54 on the opposite sides of the casing 40, which enter correspondingcavities or recesses in the bottom of the head 47 of the lever 4G, andit will be understood that the coupler-heads connected with each end ofeach car are of the same form and construction, and the movable jaws 10of the coupler-heads at each end of the car are,when said cars are notcoupled, held in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 by thesprings 32, and whenever it is desired to couple the cars the shafts 35are turned for- IOO ITO

wardly or outwardly and the cars are then run together in the usualmanner and the movable jaws of the adjacent couplers interlock, and saidmovable jaws lO cause the rearwardly-directed arms 16 to rotate or movebackwardly, and the cam-shaped heads 19 are forced under the heads 27 ofthe sliding bars 26 and cause the movable jaws 10 to interlock, ashereinbefore described, when they will occupy the position shown in fulllines in Figs. l, 4, and 5, and it will be apparent that the shaft 35may be operated from the top of the car, if desired.

My improved coupler is simple in construction and operation and is welladapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, and it willbe apparent that changes in and modiiications of the construction hereindescribed may be made without departing from the spirit of my inventionor sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. In a car-coupler, a knuckle pivotally mounted in thestationary jaw of a draw-head, a curved arm secured thereto and providedwith a projecting arm having a cam-shaped shoulder or projection formedtherein, a locking-lever mounted in said draw-head and adapted to engagesaid cam-shaped shoulder or projection, and a plate mounted on saidknuckle and projecting over said cam-shaped shoulder and the outer endof said lookinglever, and means for operating the knuckle for thepurpose set forth.

2. In a car-coupler, a knuckle pivotally mounted in the stationary jawof a draw-head a curved arm secured thereto provided with aforwardly-directed cam or projection formed on or attached thereto, andalso provided with a projecting arm having a cam-shaped shoulder orprojection formed therein, a lockinglever mounted in said draw-head andadapted to engage said cam-shaped shoulder or projection, and a platemounted on said knuckle which is yprovided with a spring mountedthereon, said plate projecting over said camshaped shoulder and theouter end of said locking-lever, and means for operating the knuckle forthe purpose set forth.

8. In a car-coupler, a knuckle pivotally mounted in a stationaryjaw ofthe draw-head, a curved arm secured thereto and provided with aprojecting arm having a cam-shaped shoulder or projection formedtherein, and a locking-lever mounted in said draw-head and adapted toengage said cam-shaped shoulder or projection, said locking-bar beingpivotally and slidably mounted in said draw-head and adapted to beraised by the said camshaped shoulder or projection formed on the curvedarm of the knuckle and means for sliding said locking-bar and a platemounted on said knuckle above said curved arm and locking-lever, and aspring mounted on said plate and adapted to hold the knuckle in anunlocked position, substantially as and for the purpose described.

et. A car coupler, comprising a couplerhead, provided with twostationary jaws, and a movable jaw pivotally connected with one of thestationary jaws, one of said stationary jaws being also provided with anopening which extends therethrough, and opens forwardly andbackwardly,and said movable jaw with an arm which is adapted to bethrown backwardly into said opening, and on which is formed abackwardly-directed projection, said coupler-head being also providedwith a backwardly-directed shank, and at one side thereof with alongitudinally-movable bar which is provided with a head which isadapted to enter said opening, and to engage with said backwardlydirected projection, and means for operating said longitudinally-movablebar from either side of the car, and a casing connected with the bottomof the car through which the shaft of the coupler-head passes, saidcasing being provided with friction-rollers which are mounted within theupper side thereof, and with a locking-lever which is provided with a'head in vwhich is mounted a friction-roller which operates in a grooveformed in the bottom of said shank, substantially as shown anddescribed.

5. A car-coupler comprising a coupler-head provided with two stationaryjaws, and a movable jaw pivotally connected with one of the stationaryjaws, one of said stationary jaws being also provided with an openingwhich extends therethrough, and opens forwardly and backwardly, and saidmovable jaw with an arm which is adapted to be thrown back-i wardly intosaid opening, and on which is formed a backwardly-directed projection,said coupler-head being also provided with abackwardly-directedshank, and at one side thereof, with a longitudinally-movable bar whichis provided with a head which is adapted to enter said opening, and toengage with said backWardly-directed projection, and means for operatingsaid longitudinally-movable bar from either side of the car, and acasing connected with the bottom of the car through which the shaft ofthe coupler-head passes, said casing being provided withfriction-rollers, which are mounted within the upper side thereof, andwith a locking-lever which is provided with a head in which is mounted afriction-roller which operates in a groove formed in the bottom of saidshank, said shank being passed between the rollers mounted in the upperpart of said casing, and the roller mounted on the head of said lever,and a spring by which the rear end of said lever is depressed,substantially as shown and described.

G. A car-coupler constructed as herein described and provided with ashank which passes through a casing or support secured beneath the car,said casing being provided with -a friction roller or rollers in theupper side thereof, and with a spring-operated le- IOO IIO

ver in one end of which n friction-roller is mounted, and the shank ofthe coupler being,r :riso provided in the bottom thereof with nemn-groove in which seid lust-named roller operates, substantially :isshown and described.

'7. A ear-coup1er constructed as herein described and provided with :Lshank which passes through L casing or support secured beneath Jnhe om',seid casing being provided with n friction roller or rollers in theupper side thereof, and with a springbpemted lever in one end of whichafrictionroiier is mounted, and the shank of .the coupler being alsoprovided in the bottom Jthereof, with a camgroove in which saidlast-named roller operaies, eind said oar being also provided a1; theend thereof with e henger through which the shank of the coupler passes,and with n roller on which said shank rests, substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing ns m y invention I have signedmy nenne, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 8th dey ofJuly, 1897.

ANDRUS S. VEAVER.

Witnesses WILLIAM JENKIN, MARVIN I. GREENWOOD.

